Hello everyone, sorry it has been a while since my last blog. The year of 2015 has been so awesome! New years was spent in Kanchanaburi city with my team, lighting floating lanterns with many other Thai people. Just before celebrating New Years we spent a few days traveling to Lao so that we could get our Visas renewed. The trip to Lao was hectic and there was so much traveling involved whether by train, bus, van or tuk tuk. However it was also such a fun time to hang out and see another country. Lately things have gotten back to what is now the norm for life in Thailand. We have very nearly reached the halfway mark for the World Race Gap Year. This blows my mind in so many ways, it feels like it has gone by so fast and at the same point it feels like I have spent an eternity out here in “the World” and have yet another eternity to spend before I reach the end. Which is such an exciting thought.
Many things have started to get normal for me. I have gotten used to using a squatty potty, I have gotten used to sleeping under a mosquitoes net, I have gotten used to the many lizards and spiders, to Pangs crazy driving, to eating foods I don’t even know the name to, and to living on a farm. However there are also things that I will never get used to like, the incredible mountains that surround us (I have never seen their like before), to the amazing sunsets that are incredibly unique every night, to the best pineapple I have ever eaten in my whole life, to the Pangs driving, yes I know I said I have gotten used to it and that is true, but at the same time, you could never get used to her driving. It is pretty crazy. I will be sitting in the bed of the truck with usually another 3 or 4 people going 90 mph down a highway, and then we will come sreeching to a halt, leaving or stomachs up in our throats. We then look around to see that we have stopped at a pineapple street vendor, and Pang is wanting to buy us some. Or we will be speeding up a road in a lane Pang made herself (the side of the road) going against very heavy traffic, yes that really happened. I have gotten to experience so many memorable things lately! Another time Pang was driving we came to a sudden stop, and after asking why, she says “maybe like we stop for the bombs ahead.” Sorry what?! Haha Another time I brought some of our team over to our neighbors who had been playing extremely loud karaoke the last few days to say hi. Another time we went to a buddhist funeral, and another time our truck got swarmed by monkeys, and another time we went party hopping at schools during day of the kids, eating junk food the entire day. Oh my gosh it has been so good making all these amazing memories with my team!
Both ministry and life with my team is going quite smoothly, that is not to say we/I have not hit some serious bumps on the road. One of the most painful and literal bumps was the one I received falling 12 feet off my eno straight onto my back. By all accounts I should have been much more injured than I was, and it really makes no sense to me. One second I was reading sitting criss cross in my eno the next thing I know I am plummeting down, thinking how did my eno rip. Miraculously I did not tip back to far or forward to far and I ended up smashing into the cement platform with my back. I lay there dazed and confused and then moments later panic rushed in as the intimidating thought of me being paralyzed soaked into my body. Relief subsequently soaked into my body as I moved my feet. The next second I realized I had knocked a good portion of the oxygen out of my body and for a while I could not physically suck in air. A bit later I could breathe again and with the new oxygen in my lungs I used it to call out for help. After a bit Josh came over and assessed the situation. After a bit he helped me up and brought me over to the nearest table were I recovered myself. He called our ministry host Pang over (she is the coolest person ever btw) and they prayed over me. Later JM and Grace came over and also prayed over me. I walked away from the fall with just a strained shoulder that must have taken the brunt of the impact. I am so blown away by the grace and love of God in this situation. I truly believe that Jesus was there to catch me and soften the blow of the fall. While I could use this fall to let fear and doubt soak into me, It has actually done the opposite to me. In me it has ignited a passion to be here on the World Race and serve with a renewed fire and energy. I have heard that the halfway point for the race is really important, and at it you reach a fork in the road. You can either keep on coasting to the finish line or, you can give it your all and set out with the passion you had at the beginning of the race. I am so committed to giving this time in Thailand and Zambia my all.
Thanks for checking up on me!
